Remote controller for mobile device

Abstract

A remote controller for a mobile device is described. The remote controller includes a communications transceiver configured for bidirectional communications with the mobile device, and a computer processing system communicatively coupled to the communications transceiver. The computer processing system may be configured to execute instructions to remotely control one or more applications associated with the mobile device. Examples of applications include media playback applications, software updating applications, and the like. The remote controller may also include one or more actuators communicatively coupled to the computer processing system, the one or more actuators being configured to receive user input to control or access the one or more applications. Additionally, the remote controller may include a screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A remote controller for a mobile device comprising:
 a communications transceiver configured for bidirectional communications with the mobile device, the mobile device being a mobile phone; 
 a computer processing system communicatively coupled to the communications transceiver, the computer processing system being configured to execute instructions to remotely control one or more applications associated with the mobile device, the mobile device being physically communicatively coupled to a video display device using a micro-Universal Serial Bus (USB) port; and 
 one or more actuators communicatively coupled to the computer processing system, the one or more actuators being configured to receive user input, the user input remotely controlling the one or more applications, the one or more actuators being further configured to control the one or more applications by controlling a high definition video stream playback on the video display device, the remote controller providing a user with control of the one or more applications when the mobile device is physically communicatively coupled to the video display device without requiring the user to be proximate to the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       2. The remote controller of  claim 1 , wherein the remote controller includes one or more of the following: a touchscreen controller, a LCD driver, an audio digital-to-analog convertor, and a BLUETOOTH transceiver. 
     
     
       3. The remote controller of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to a further device using one or more of the following: a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output port and the micro-Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, the micro-Universal Serial Bus (USB) port embedding at least one of a SLIMPORT function and a Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) function. 
     
     
       4. The remote controller of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more acoustic transducers communicatively coupled to the computer processing system, the one or more acoustic transducers being configured to enable acoustic communications associated with the mobile device. 
     
     
       5. The remote controller of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more acoustic transducers include a sound generating device communicatively coupled to the computer processing system. 
     
     
       6. The remote controller of  claim 5 , wherein the remote controller is configured to cause making and receiving of telephone calls via the mobile device using at least the sound generating device. 
     
     
       7. The remote controller of  claim 1 , the remote controller further comprising a screen. 
     
     
       8. The remote controller of  claim 7 , wherein the screen includes one or more of the following: an LCD display and a touch screen. 
     
     
       9. The remote controller of  claim 1 , wherein the bidirectional communications include wireless communications. 
     
     
       10. The remote controller of  claim 9 , wherein the wireless communications include one or more of the following technologies: BLUETOOTH, WI-FI, and NFC. 
     
     
       11. The remote controller of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators are further configured to control the one or more applications by navigating menus. 
     
     
       12. The remote controller of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators comprise one or more of the following: buttons and a touchscreen. 
     
     
       13. The remote controller of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to one or more further remote controllers. 
     
     
       14. A method for controlling a mobile device using a remote controller, the method comprising:
 establishing, via a processor of the remote controller, a communication channel between the remote controller and the mobile device, the mobile device being physically communicatively coupled to a video display device; 
 receiving, by the remote controller, one or more commands for controlling the mobile device; 
 transmitting, the remote controller via the communication channel, the one or more commands to the mobile device to control at least one application of the mobile device, the at least one application controlling a high definition video stream playback on the video display device; and 
 receiving a response, by the at least one application executed by a processor of the mobile device, responsive to the one or more commands, the remote controller providing a user with control of the one or more applications when the mobile device is physically communicatively coupled to the video display device without requiring the user to be proximate to the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more commands are transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more commands are transmitted using one or more of the following technologies: BLUETOOTH, WI-FI, and NFC. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the response includes an acoustic signal. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more commands are inputted via one or more of the following: buttons and a screen of the remote controller. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more commands are received via one or more actuators. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising causing establishment of a voice call via the communication channel in response to the one or more commands, the voice call being handled by the remote controller when the mobile device is physically communicatively coupled to the video display device without requiring the user to be proximate to the mobile device. 
     
     
       21. A system for controlling a mobile device using a remote controller comprising:
 a mobile device, the mobile device being a mobile phone and being physically communicatively coupled to a video display device using a micro-Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and being at least one of electrically coupled and magnetically coupled for charging; and 
 one or more remote controllers for the mobile device in communication with the mobile device via a wireless protocol, the one or more remote controllers including:
 a communications transceiver configured for bidirectional communications with the mobile device; 
 a computer processing system communicatively coupled to the communications transceiver, wherein the computer processing system includes a microcontroller and one or more of the following: a touch controller, an LCD driver, an audio digital-to-analog convertor, a wireless transceiver, the computer processing system being configured to execute instructions to remotely control one or more applications associated with the mobile device; 
 one or more actuators communicatively coupled to the computer processing system, the one or more actuators being configured to receive user input, the user input causing commands to be transmitted that remotely control the one or more applications, the one or more actuators being further configured to control the one or more applications by controlling a high definition video stream playback on the video display device, the remote controller providing a user with control of the one or more applications when the mobile device is physically communicatively coupled to the video display device without requiring the user to be proximate to the mobile device; and 
 a screen. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , the one or more remote controllers further including one or more acoustic transducers communicatively coupled to the computer processing system, the one or more acoustic transducers being configured to enable acoustic communications associated with the mobile device. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mobile device is communicatively coupled to a further device using one or more of the following: a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output port and the micro-Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, the micro-Universal Serial Bus (USB) port embedding at least one of a SLIMPORT function and a Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) function. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 21 , wherein the bidirectional communications include wireless communications. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the wireless communications include one or more of the following technologies: BLUETOOTH, WI-FI, and NFC. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 21 , wherein the user input is further configured to control the one or more applications by navigating menus.